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Get It NowWhen I need an easy side dish and don’t have the time (or the ingredients in my fridge) to make anything fancy, I turn to this arugula salad recipe! This green salad goes with everything, it doesn’t require any special ingredients, and I can make it in just minutes. The lemon vinaigrette dressing makes this dish!
Why You’ll Love This Arugula Salad Recipe
- Fresh, peppery arugula
- Zesty lemon vinaigrette dressing
- Simple ingredients
- 10 minutes from start to finish
- Naturally low carb and healthy
- Simple, yet elegant
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best arugula salad ingredients, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Simple Arugula Salad:
This classic arugula salad needs 3 simple ingredients, but can easily include other flavorful additions. (See variations below!) Here’s what you need for the basic version:
- Arugula – You can use baby arugula or regular arugula leaves. The same recipe also works with baby spinach, mixed greens, or even kale.
- Pine Nuts – As an alternative to toasted or raw pine nuts, you can try using walnuts, almonds, pecans, or sunflower seeds for crunch.
- Shaved Parmesan Cheese – This dish also works with crumbled feta cheese, grated pecorino Romano, or creamy goat cheese.
Arugula Salad Dressing:
The zesty lemon vinaigrette dressing adds bright flavor to the salad. Here’s what I use to make it:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – You can also use avocado oil, or your favorite neutral salad oil.
- Lemon Juice – For the best flavor, use fresh lemon juice. You can swap in other acids too, such as balsamic vinegar.
- Dijon Mustard – You can use yellow mustard, whole grain mustard, or spicy brown mustard to bring a different flavor profile to the dressing.
- Italian Seasoning – Make homemade Italian seasoning in just 5 minutes, or use a store-bought mix.
- Garlic Powder – For subtle garlicky flavor.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – Kosher salt works as well instead of sea salt.
VARIATION: Make a sweet dressing!
Add 1-2 teaspoons of honey (or even maple syrup) if you want some sweetness. (You can also use zero sugar honey, if you want a sugar-free salad dressing that’s still sweet.)
How To Make Arugula Salad
This section shows how to make an arugula salad, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, combine arugula salad dressing ingredients. Whisk until emulsified. (You can also just shake the dressing in a glass mason jar if you’re making extra to store for later.)
- Assemble the salad. Place arugula into a large bowl. Add pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
- Toss together. Drizzle vinaigrette over the top and toss until the arugula is well coated. Serve right away.
Recipe Variations
There are lots of variations you can make using this simple arugula salad recipe as a base:
- Watermelon – For a watermelon arugula salad, add chunks of fresh watermelon, replace the parmesan with feta cheese, and add fresh herbs (such as fresh mint) if you like.
- Strawberries – Add sliced strawberries, sliced red onions, diced avocado, and pecans. This strawberry arugula salad would be a bit similar to strawberry spinach salad.
- Apples – Thinly sliced apples (or pears) work well to add natural sweetness. You can also dice them if you want some in every bite.
- Goat Cheese – Make an arugula goat cheese salad by swapping the parmesan with goat cheese. You can also combine this with any of the other options on this list.
- Fresh Vegetables – Add halved cherry tomatoes or diced cucumbers.
- Protein – Topped with baked chicken breast or grilled salmon for a complete meal. You can also add steak for a steak salad.
Storage Instructions
If you’ll have leftovers of this delicious salad, store the greens separate from dressing in an airtight container, and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. The dressing stores well in a glass jar in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Add the dressing just before serving. (The salad does not store well with the dressing already added, as the arugula will get soggy.)
What To Serve With Arugula Salad
Pair this simple salad with a main dish for a complete meal or add some protein to enjoy it as a light lunch. Here are some of my go-to ways to serve with arugula salad recipes:
- Chicken – Serve this salad as a side dish with grilled chicken legs or BBQ chicken legs in the summer or baked chicken legs in the winter. If you prefer white meat, make baked chicken wings or lemon garlic chicken.
- Salmon – Try classic pan seared salmon (the lemon butter sauce is irresistible!), rich and creamy Tuscan salmon, or fancy stuffed salmon with crabmeat for a special meal. You can also make grilled salmon in the warm months.
- Pasta – Arugula salad recipes are a great light side for heavier pasta dishes! For a fresh, light, but still comforting take, serve it with eggplant lasagna or top zucchini noodles with alfredo sauce.
- Steak – Take it to the next level by serving it alongside a juicy steak, whether it’s a succulent ribeye, tender filet mignon, or flavorful sirloin. For a lighter option, thinly slice grilled steak and toss it into the salad for a protein-packed lunch or dinner.
- Stuffed Dinners – This salad makes the perfect simple side to stuffed portobello mushrooms, lasagna-style stuffed peppers, stuffed tomatoes, and even spinach stuffed chicken.
More Arugula Salad Recipes
Try more simple arugula salad recipes that create fresh flavors with effortless prep:
Arugula Salad Recipe
Arugula Salad Recipe (10 Minutes!)
You'll love this arugula salad recipe with parmesan, pine nuts, and tangy lemon vinaigrette dressing. Easy to make in just 10 minutes!
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Arugula Salad:
Lemon Vinaigrette:
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk until emulsified.
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Place the arugula into a large mixing bowl. Add pine nuts and parmesan cheese.
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Drizzle vinaigrette over the top and toss until arugula is well coated. Serve right away.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 1/2 cups
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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5 Comments
Jessica
0I just love how the spicy, tangy flavors of the arugula and dressing combine with the savory, fatty flavors of the cheese and pine nuts. This may sound odd, but I love this side salad when we do pizza night at home!
Elizabeth S
0Arugula is my absolute favorite and I am always looking for new recipes. This was so delicious and I loved the toasted pine nuts. I did add chicken to make this a complete dinner. Will be using this recipe again.
Traci
0This was the perfect breakfast recipe! It tasted so good and really hit the spot. That lemon vinaigrette was so so good!
Shelby
0I love this arugula salad for hot nights! The lemon dressing is so refreshing.
Gina
0The peppery arugula, the salty parmesan and the bright lemon make the perfect light refreshing salad. I could eat this every day!